Meet Our Team

GABRIELLE ROBINSON

Director & Founder of the Empowerdance Group | Chief Inspiration Officer | Teacher & Choreographer 

With over 30 years of experience in the studio, Gabrielle has worked with companies, studios and in schools, dancing and running workshops, programs and classes. A registered RAD teacher, Gabrielle also is a service provider for studios in need of support and has consulted for RAD regional advisory panel and Ausdance SA.

Her role in Empowerdance is one of leadership, support and influence as she consciously navigates the RTO landscape and consults with National Regulatory bodies to seek improved standards within the dance industry. Being a progressive leader whose interest is in empowering others to take a stand for their business, community and the industry, she has a transparent and educated approach to opening doors for the future generation of dance. 

Gabrielle is the facilitator of the Australian Dance festival VIP teachers room, giving her a deep foundation of experience and knowledge to be able to support Australia’s dance teachers and studio owners toward continually improving their practices. 

Aside from the work she does in the studio, Gabrielle has a passion for human behaviour and has extensive qualifications that support this passion both in and outside the studio space.

ELLIE ROBINSON 

Brand & Culture | Teacher & Choreographer | Student Support | Infinity Performance Team Leader 

Having spent her childhood in the bustling hallways of theatres, watching her mother teach ballet for countless hours after school and on weekends, and participating in every school musical and showcase- Ellie’s passion for dance and the business of studios is deeply seeded in her entire identity. 

Ellie has over 15 years of dance teaching experience, working her way through the ranks from a junior student teacher to her role now as a Choreographer and coach for Gravity Dance’s elite performance teams. 

Ellie has spent the past decade in training rooms across the globe with people such as Tony Robbins, Preston Smiles, Alexi Panos, Robert Kiyosaki, Sharon Pearson and T Harv Eker, just to name a few. As a certified Life Coach, experienced sales strategist, NLP practitioner and DISC profiler, Ellie brings all of her experience in these courses into to her work in Empowerdance where she assists other studio owners and teachers create proven pathways for profit, retention and growth.

Ellie’s interest for human development, particularly in the area of confidence and positive mindset strategies for dancers and teachers is something is a never-ending adventure for Elle.  Her understanding of training the student to be the best human possible using dance as the vehicle is something that will continue to be her legacy as she traverses through the Empowerdance journey.

MELISSA STUPEL 

Administrations | Teacher & Choreographer | Student Support | RTO Manager 

As a curious child Melissa joined the dance world at an early age with the studio that has now evolved into Empowerdance.  Obsessed with  jazz, tap, classical and contemporary, she participated in the rigours of annual exams. Melissa obtained her Teacher’s Certificate through both Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance and Glenn Wood Tap. Completing a Bachelor of Dance Performance, after finishing year 12 and to further her role in Empowerdance completed her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. 

Melissa is active in the studio and teaches students of all ages including Certificate students exam students and recreational students, with her passion genre being Tap.

Being a founding member of Empowerdance Melissa worked from the grassroots to establish the Registered Training Organisation while writing the original Certificate II, III and IV courses. Melissa’s role at Empowerdance far exceeds the reporting, resulting and administration management systems.  She is a stable to the management and operations of the company and is a committed advocate to the legacy that dance can offer.